Skyscrapers thread: why doesn't europe have many of those?

[Colon™]

Originally posted by alva
Ok, one for Colon, nope you get any points for guessing which building it is

The view from my kitchenterras (the ugly part, the left is much better )

Do you live in the Harmoniestraat? I used to go to the school nearby. (RIKSO, in the Karel Oomstraat)

BTW, here's a picture of the Belgacom building across the park. (don't whine Ec )

[Spiffor]

Az:
I must say that I think La Défense area is the most boring place of Paris (and there are quite a few), and the whole zone is an ugly speck in the parisian urban continuum.

Sure, it is needed in order to have dynamic business areas, but from a urban point of view, La Défense sucks.

I think the lack of skyscrapers in Europe comes mostly from the fact that the cities have a urban plan and a feel to them which is centuries old, and which is supposed to last (as opposed to many East asians cities where most buildings weren't supposed to stand the test of time).
And European cities don't want to deface them with a bunch of out-of-place skyscrapers.

[Colon™]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Az:
I must say that I think La Défense area is the most boring place of Paris (and there are quite a few), and the whole zone is an ugly speck in the parisian urban continuum.

Sure, it is needed in order to have dynamic business areas, but from a urban point of view, La Défense sucks.

I think the lack of skyscrapers in Europe comes mostly from the fact that the cities have a urban plan and a feel to them which is centuries old, and which is supposed to last (as opposed to many East asians cities where most buildings weren't supposed to stand the test of time).
And European cities don't want to deface them with a bunch of out-of-place skyscrapers.

I some doubts about that. It may be true in open air museums like Bruges or Venice but in most other cities the old town is usually rather small compared to the rest of the city. You can usually find a modern business district not far away from that old centre.

And I don't think medieval constructions weren't supposed to last any longer than it's the case in Asia. Most buildings left from that era are big public buildings (like churches, city halls etc) or buildings that were prime real estate in their time. Not the ordinary houses.
Besides, we didn't have in qualms in demolishing old buildings during the sixties en seventies either. (even big beaties) It's more of recent thing.

[alva]

Do you live in the Harmoniestraat?

Yep...

[Az]

what Colon said.

[Atahualpa]

So Skycraper is progress?
Well I do not think so, if you take into account how old that concept is. Or is Radio progress too?

I think a Skyline like NY looks great, but at the same time I think that is US and not Europe.

Here in Europe most cities have an old city centre and that has much flair too.
Just walk around Vienna's 1st district and then tell me that Skyscraper is the only thing thats looking good.

I dont like to say whats lookin better, I think its looking different and both have their attraction.

I certainly do not wish that european cities get some sort of pseudo-modern flair (when you start mixing things) just because someone thought european buildings are not long enough.
Also I like the fact that european cities differ from the rest in that they have NO skyscrapers. If id like skyscrapers so much I could always move to NY or Frankfurt which has some sort of Skyline too here.


The ugliest city I have seen so far by the way is Athens! That city had absolutely NO atmosphere at all. Its all one height and has loads of traffic and every stupid idiot is using his horn when its not going the way he wants it. Athens should really do something about its "skyline".

ata

[Colon™]

Originally posted by alva

Do you live in the Harmoniestraat?

Yep...

Don't worry, I'm not going to send any snipers after you.

[Az]

Ata:

I am not talking about only Aesthetics, although for me and many others ( as you can see in this thread! ), Skyscrapers are a thing of beauty.

Skyscrapers can be not only magnificent and inspiring by their immensity and design, as the cathedrals of old, but are also very important and healthy for the developement of human habitat.
Without skyscrapers, what we'll have is eternal urban sprawl, with suburbia everywhere you go. Skyscrapers are the ones to give a fighting chance for the future of green pastures, woods, rolling hills and sandy beaches.

[alva]

I am not talking about only Aesthetics, although for me and many others ( as you can see in this thread! ), Skyscrapers are a thing of beauty.

They are,.....from a distance.
Like I said, the building a couple of posts ago is to my right, to left the left it's all green, some flower gardens, some tree etc..., guess what direction I look mostly at.

(I'll see if I can make a left and right pic tomorrow, too dark now )

[Az]

alva, that's because that building is ugly.

[Colon™]

Originally posted by Azazel
Ata:

I am not talking about only Aesthetics, although for me and many others ( as you can see in this thread! ), Skyscrapers are a thing of beauty.

Skyscrapers can be not only magnificent and inspiring by their immensity and design, as the cathedrals of old, but are also very important and healthy for the developement of human habitat.
Without skyscrapers, what we'll have is eternal urban sprawl, with suburbia everywhere you go. Skyscrapers are the ones to give a fighting chance for the future of green pastures, woods, rolling hills and sandy beaches.

You gotta be fair, they can be real ugly

But there are a lot of nice skycrapers too, I posted some of them in this thread. The Commerzbank HQ in Frankfurt, the HSBC building in Hong Kong. The Empire State is just stunning, not just because it's so huge, but because it's simple yet beautiful. A true modern day cathedral, if you want.
Not all of them of big grey/grown boxes, especially Asia has lots of nicer ones.

[alva]

Well, it is a gouverment buildiing, what do you want
btw, you should the statue they put in front of it

[Colon™]

Originally posted by alva
Well, it is a gouverment buildiing, what do you want
btw, you should the statue they put in front of it

I think all architects were on crack in the seventies, it's just horrible what they designed back then.

[Atahualpa]

Originally posted by Azazel
Ata:

I am not talking about only Aesthetics, although for me and many others ( as you can see in this thread! ), Skyscrapers are a thing of beauty.

Skyscrapers can be not only magnificent and inspiring by their immensity and design, as the cathedrals of old, but are also very important and healthy for the developement of human habitat.
Without skyscrapers, what we'll have is eternal urban sprawl, with suburbia everywhere you go. Skyscrapers are the ones to give a fighting chance for the future of green pastures, woods, rolling hills and sandy beaches.

My point was that while skyscrapers can indeed look wonderful I do not think they fit into european cities without breaking their flair.
That to answer your question why there are so few in Europe. Because obviously i am not alone with my opinion.

And if you think skycrapers save nature then wait when those living there have enough money to buy a weekend house in the countryside.
I mean who wants to spend his whole life in a flat? I can't imagine that. Just think of the kids or the pets.

ata

[Az]

Well, it is a gouverment buildiing, what do you want
btw, you should the statue they put in front of it

your government saves money on architects? for shame.

Government building in Tel Aviv ( to be finished in a couple of months )



another one that Sail thingee that I posted in the previous pages.
So, so far, so good. They're not something amazing, but they're ok, and are not very boring.

My point was that while skyscrapers can indeed look wonderful I do not think they fit into european cities without breaking their flair.
That to answer your question why there are so few in Europe. Because obviously i am not alone with my opinion.

And if you think skycrapers save nature then wait when those living there have enough money to buy a weekend house in the countryside.
I mean who wants to spend his whole life in a flat? I can't imagine that. Just think of the kids or the pets.

Ata, I don't think they'll break their flair. It didn't break London's or Paris' flair, did it?

And if you think skycrapers save nature then wait when those living there have enough money to buy a weekend house in the countryside.
I mean who wants to spend his whole life in a flat? I can't imagine that. Just think of the kids or the pets.

I've lived my entire life in a flat. It's great. I have a dog, and he's doing great too. ( He's a small dog, but very energetic. That's what walks are for! )